Birthdays and Bookworms : Part 2

by **Lorelle** on November 5th, 2013, 5:07 am

Timestamp :: 14th of fall, 315 AV
Time of Day :: Later morning
Continuation of Birthdays and Bookworms : Part 1

This was not what Lorelle would call “the ideal situation”. No. Far from it actually. This was probably one of the worst possible places she could put herself in. The child had already called her old and that had stung more than Lorelle thought it would. True, anyone over the age of sixteen was probably “old” in the child’s eyes. However, it being her twentieth birthday and all. It hurt a little more than it should have. Now there is one lucky thing about this girl. The chances of her knowing it is Lorelle’s birthday today are slim. Lorelle hasn’t told many people. Actually, when she thinks about it, Meville and her parents are the only ones who know of this day she has been dreading. Well, and Jack. She doesn’t know where he found out. It definitely wasn't her who told him. Unless he heard her say something about it. She sighs softly, pushing away the thoughts as she has no time for them at the present moment. She looks down, seeing the five almost teens all looking at her.

Lorelle has moved them over to the corner of the library where no one else is. Hopefully if they are quiet enough, the won’t disturb anyone. Lorelle sure hopes so. Then she will be doing her job and that would mean maybe actually doing something right today. Lorelle looks to the eldest of the girls. She was the one who made the deal. She goes first. Lorelle raises her eyebrows, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “Alright, you go first,” Lorelle reminded her when the girl didn’t jump right in and start off on some rant like story with the main character suspiciously mirroring what little she knew of Lorelle. Actually, she doesn’t go off on any rant at all. Strangely, she is quiet. It is refreshing. In an eerie sort of way.

The young girl’s mouth opens before closing again. She looks to the floor, her friends looking at her expectantly. Lorelle raises an eyebrow. This is a change she hadn’t been expecting. She was sure the girl was going to ... “Once, there was a woman,” the girl starts. Lorelle winces. Of course it was to much luck for the girl to just decide to be quiet. Sighing, she leans back and presses her palms to the ground. Might as well get comfortable. Sounds like this intro was going to be awhile.

“A woman with thick black hair and dull, solid colored eyes. Not a Vantha woman, but instead, a very ordinary human. A woman who found herself trapped in the snow. With no food or water, she would soon starve to her inevitable death. Dira would come and snatch her soul away, leading it to its correct place in the after life,” the girl gives her introduction to the story. When she is done, she sits down for she had stood up somewhere in the middle of that. She looks at Lorelle, a challenging look in her eyes as if daring Lorelle to change the story or make it better. Lorelle just raises and eyebrow before sitting forward. “But this woman while very ordinary, was very bright. I do not mean smart when I say that. I mean, she was a woman who followed in the paths of the Goddess Priskil. She was gifted with one gnosis mark and that mark, it gave her hope...” Lorelle’s voice trails of as the oldest girl interrupts her.

“Who cares? What good is hope when one is nearing there death?” she points out. Lorelle smirks, leaning forward a bit more. “What good is hope? Hope is everything. A little hope can get a single person through the worst of times. Hope could be the one thing to save a person. And for this woman, hope was what she needed. Hope, a little faith, and her mind. See, the woman was also knowledgable enough to have prepared herself somewhat. She was sure to wear enough furs to keep herself warm enough not to freeze. She would take snow off the cave walls and melt it in her mouth to drink when her waterskin became frozen solid. She had brought with her food. Not much, but enough to outlast the storm. Oh, and the snow walls around her were made of compact snow. She knew she wouldn’t freeze down there,” Lorelle stops when the children around her just look at her with bored eyes. Lorelle sighs. This is not going where she wanted it to. She is boring them. She bites her bottom lip. Her eyes travel to the littlest one of the group. A young Vantha girl with blue streaks painted throughout her hair.

“How about you take the next section?” Lorelle suggests, wanting to pull them out of their boredom. The young girl opens her mouth to speak when the older girl steps in with her own voice. “She can’t. She doesn’t talk,” the girl says, looking at the girl with an unhumorous glint in her eyes. It was obvious that the older girl enjoyed the spotlight and being in charge. Lorelle turns to the older girl before turning back to little one. “You can speak if you wish, no one is judging here,” Lorelle looks to the oldest child, daring her to contradict. The oldest child just crosses her arms, jaw set. Seems to Lorelle like she has won this round, but she should expect revenge to be dished out. Lorelle just smirks lightly, reaching out and touching the littlest teen. “Go ahead, take the next part of the story. Make it interesting, for obviously, I have made it quite boring.”

The little preteen looks up at Lorelle, nerves showing easily in her eyes. In this instant, Lorelle feels as if she understands this teen. She is nervous, not wanting to be judged by her peers. It would better to not share her thoughts because then she couldn’t be told that they were wrong. No one could laugh at her if they didn’t know what was going on inside her head. It would just be better for everyone for her to be quiet. Lorelle’s gaze softens. She was this preteen. She still is somewhat. Self conscious, guarded. She doesn’t enjoy getting hurt so she doesn’t put herself out there. When it comes to her thoughts and desires. Her pain and her empathy towards other people, she keeps it all shut off. It is better to just not feel than to feel to much.

Lorelle takes the girl’s hand softly in her own. She gives it a small squeeze, smiling softly. The girl nods before turning to her friends. Good she is going to do it. Time to take a breather. Lorelle rests her free arm back once more and waits. She is ready to hear how this story will be spun in the the hands of this preteen.

by **Lorelle** on November 7th, 2013, 7:28 am

“This woman, though smart, wasn’t prepared for what would happen to her next,” the little Vantha began, letting Lorelle have her hand back. The energy the young child puts in her words make it hard not to listen, even though she has yet to say much. “Once the storm outside of her little bubble of safety began to slow, she started to prepare to leave her hiding spot. She waited till what she thought was the perfect moment before she began to try and dig herself out. And then ...” the girl’s voice pauses as she looks at the other girls. A bead of sweat drips from her forehead as she nervously looks at her so called friends. It is obvious that these girls make her nervous. It is like they have something over her or at least intimidate her for some reason. Lorelle is about to step in once more when the girl continues. “The floor of the bubble, popped!” The girl makes a popping noise with her lips as she jumps up. She quickly sits back down and crosses her legs, holding her knees with her hands.

“She fell into a deep, deep hole. Fear took control of her emotions as her screams echoed through the cavern. She hit the ground with a loud thud,” the preteen slaps her hand against the floor, creating the desired sound. Or what Lorelle guesses is the desired sound anyway. “Her body was filled with pain, but she stood up quickly for the sound of something breathing heavily throbbed in her ears. She shuffled back on her feet, pressing herself up against the wall. Her breath came in rapid pants. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. A trail of sweat beaded in a line across her forehead. She forgot her hope, ruled by her fear and her pain now. Her faith and bravery left her as a breeze flees into the wind.” The rest of the girls are silent. Lorelle isn’t sure if that is a good or bad thing. It could mean they are bored to their deaths or they are interested and desire for the story to be continued.

“She began to calm down. Her heart became steady and she eased herself off the wall. She focused on her breathing and made it become steady before she began to focus in on her one gnosis mark. She spread her palms out, letting a small bit of light spread across her palms. It wasn’t much, maybe about as bright as a torch might be and it would only last for a few chimes so she knew she had to find a way out quickly. She began taking a few steps forward,” the girl stands up before turning and taking a few steps to demonstrate. “Three choices stood before her. Three stone arch ways. A choice had to be made. Only one would lead the way out, the other two were dead ends. What would she choose? The right, left or middle?” the girl shrugs, looking to her friends before looking to Lorelle. The teen nods before sitting back down. She leans forward on her knees, waiting to see who would be next.

Lorelle looks at the other girls. “What will the woman choose? What dangers lied before her should she choose the wrong route? Or even the right one? How long would her light source, her source of hope to find a way out last? Would she get back by then?” Lorelle asks, trying to get the energy up and convince one of the girls to take the next part, “Who wants to decide the next part of this poor woman’s fate?”

by **Lorelle** on January 10th, 2014, 8:00 am

“I do!” One of the other girl’s speak up. Lorelle’s eyes travel over to the girl who has spoken. Another Vantha. Orange streaks in this girls long, straight hair. Lorelle smiles, happy that the oldest of the group has not tried to jump in again. “Alright,” Lorelle says, “You have the floor.” The little Vantha smiles before she begins.

“It was hard to decide which door to choose. Really, who wants to have to make that kind of decision? Not this woman. It scared her. She could feel her stomach tightening. A large knot had formed in her throat. Sweat dripped not only on her forehead but on the palms of her hands. There was little hope could do for her when the fear was so very present. The light on her hands faded as her hope did. Was she even worthy of the mark given to her by Priskil?” as the girl speaks, Lorelle looks to the others. They are all listening. She isn’t all that sure that they care, but they are quiet for the most part. Not disturbing the peace. Good enough for her.

“Whispers began to echo out from each of the three doors. The first door, the right door, sang sweet whispers of love and dreams. The woman’s heart’s deepest desires were spread out before her with promises of them coming true. It wanted her to choose it. Tempting as it was, the next door was louder. More gripping,” the girl continues, giving no room for any of the others to jump in and take over the story. This worries Lorelle, but none of them have tried to yet. She just hopes it stays that way. “The middle door spoke to her brave side. The adventurer. It spoke of tales from far off lands. It promised to take her there. To give her the dangers she was convinced she wanted to experience. To make her fearless and powerful. Her greed wanted it. She wanted that. To be higher than all others. The two doors bickered. Each one’s whispers trying to over power the others.”

Lorelle listens, wondering which she would pick. Without her life being on the line that is. The first door? Speaking of granting her deepest desires. Or the second? Taking her far away from this frozen wasteland of a home. It would be faster than leaving with Meville might be. But still, she isn’t sure she would pick the second door. Plus, what if the whispers are lying? What if each door just wants to consume the woman? Taking her and lead her astray.

“The third door was quieter than the others. The whispers it held had no chance against the other two doors. To soft and lulling. The door spoke only truth. It tried to remind the woman of her hope. Of the power that could truly save her. Just that little glimmer. The whispers tried to remind her that hope is stronger than fear. That as long as there is hope, anything is possible,” the room is silent as the little Vantha stops speaking. The other girls look at her with raised eyebrows. The oldest looks as though she doesn’t like what is being said, but she keeps her mouth shut. Lorelle has a feeling that after the littlest Vantha spoke, the oldest has lost some of her attitude. She hopes so at least.

As the silence continues, Lorelle looks to each of the girls. “Well?” one eventually says, “What next? We must know what she chooses and if it was the correct choice.” Lorelle looks to the owner of the voice. The oldest one. Of course. “Who wants to create the next part of the story?” Lorelle asks, letting her eyes travel to the others in the group who have yet to contribute. “Any of you want to give it a go?” she asks. After hesitating, one of the girls nods. A half Vantha, Lorelle notices, her eyes don’t shift and the streaks in her hair are obviously dyed. She is trying to hard in Lorelle's opinion. Her forming beauty is evident and Vantha or not she will be able to grab the attention she will want in a few years. Unless she is like the icemaiden before her that is.

Lorelle nods, giving a small, trying to be encouraging, smile. “Alright, go ahead,” she says. The girl nods before looking to the others in the group. Lorelle watches her, seeing her nerves. It is easily seen, she feels out of place among her peers. This could be it though, a chance to prove herself an equal among these girls. Though the question is, will she?

by **Lorelle** on January 10th, 2014, 8:14 am

“The choices were there, laid out before her. The woman, lets call her Pia, was conflicted. How could she possibly choose? One told her it would give her her heart’s desire. The second promised to quench her adventurous spirit. To take her to far off lands. The third tried to rekindle her hope. Bring her back to herself. Remind her of her beliefs and what she already knew to be true,” the half blood starts out. One thing is certain. She has been paying attention to the other girls in the group and they are all still fairly quiet. Good thing. Very good.

“Pia looked to each door, listened to ever whisper. Then she had a thought. Wouldn’t the doors fighting be the ones with the dangers? The ones with ends? Why would this third cave, the one trying to bring back the truth lie to her? She stared at the third door, looking past it and into the dark cavern. She couldn’t see anything. It was pitch black. But so were the other others. She really couldn’t see anything. She gnawed on her lip, deciding the one least likely to gain her decision would be the safest route,” Lorelle listens to the girl speak, wondering what she is going to do to Pia. “She began to walk. Past the door and into the cavern that stretched out before her.”

Lorelle watches as the other girl’s lean in, trying to listen. Is this really captivating them that much? “Girls,” a voice behind all of them speaks. Lorelle looks back. An older Vantha woman stands there, coat on and ready to go. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be late,” the woman states. The oldest girl of the group stands up. The others follow suite. Lorelle turns and looks to them, disappointed. She stands, wanting to know what happens. She looks to the half blood who is now standing in front of her.

“What happens to Pia?” Lorelle asks. The half blood looks up into her eyes, her own piercing blue eyes striking. “She dies. The choice she made was the wrong one,” she states simply. Lorelle looks at her. Clearly confused. The girl simply shrugs before following the others out of the library. Lorelle stares after them. “What kind of story is that?” she asks herself. Never before has she heard a story were the truth was used to mask falsehood. Not from a preteens mind anyway. Though, she should expect it. The teens' minds all seem to be rather out there anyway. Whispers in caverns? Really? Is that even possible? She doubts it.

Lorelle sighs, moving away from where they all gathered to tell the story. She makes her way to the desk. Sitting down, she stares at the closed ledger. Her mind drifts back to the last thing the half blood told her. What is the meaning of the ending? Obviously the story is just a story. Created by preteens no doubt. But still. It has to mean something right? To at least one of those girls. Why else would the half blood choose for Pia to meet with her death? Lorelle sighs again, running a hand through her hair. Best not to worry about it. She has work to do. And a birthday to get through. A shiver runs down her spine as she makes a face. She forgot. Just for a moment, but reality has come back. As it usually does when one forgets. Another sigh escapes her as she opens the ledger. It is time to drown herself in work. Maybe the day will pass by faster this way. At least, she hopes it will.

.:End:.

by **Ablation** on March 16th, 2014, 6:05 am

Lorelle :

Please don't be afraid to PM me with any questions ^-^ and please don't forget to remove your grading request from the list to keep My office spick and span.

Solo Birthdays and Bookworms : Part 2